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Reality Check
September 28, 2000
Sir/Madam,
Congratulations Ato Boldon!!! Well done!!!
I thought of writing this letter two days ago, but, felt it would be best to wait till after the 200 metre final in Sydney this morning.
By ten o'clock Monday moring as I pulled into an auto electrical shop I heard an animated conversation among some people there as to whether and how much Ato had been paid by Uncle Sam to throw the race and what deals had been made for gold in the two sprints.
My immediate reaction to them: by engaging in this kind of talk what they were doing was crying down their own countryman. I don't put anything past the US whose mission is to establish its world domination in economics, politics, sports, culture, etc. But, to believe that a man we have held up as a national hero and whose integrity has been unimpeached might take a bribe to throw a race was to decry one's own and must not be done.
I can't blame those guys in the shop, though. We have become so accustomed to a lack of integrity among those in public life in this country, that we begin to doubt everyone. And, such speculation was fuelled by an irresponsible radio poll that morning attempting to be populist about whether Ato's relationship with Greene was responsible for his placing.
What was necessary was a pinch of reality and perhaps, a bit of humility on Ato's part would have helped.
Any casual observer would have seen that for this year Ato's performances have not been his best and not what perhaps one would have liked leading up to a most important meet like the Olympics.
In an interview following the 100 m he admitted as much pointing to his lack of sub-10 runs before Sydney. And, his lane assignment in both sprint finals was not the best due to his third placing in the semis. I am sure Ato would in a quiet moment admit that it wasn't the best strategic position to get into.
So now that his performance in the 200 is over, hopefully reality would have gripped all those who have engaged in the unsavoury speculation about our sporting hero's integrity.
Ato has done his best in the conditions, including his own physical and mental condition. What more can we ask of him or any other athlete.
Had we all been more realistic we would have tempered our expectations in light of performance and facts, rather than sentiment.
It would probably do us a world of good to apply this to other aspects of too.
HOMEPAGE
Copyright © Clyde Weatherhead
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